Bilateral and regional military cooperation of Lithuania and France discussed

On February 5 Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas discussed further prospects for regional and bilateral military cooperation at a meeting with Deputy Director General for International Relations and Strategy at the French Ministry of Defense Vice Admiral Hervé de Bonnaventure.

“France contributes to ensuring security of the Baltic states by taking part in the NATO enhanced Forward Presence. We highly appreciate France’s decision to deploy a company-sized unit with combat capabilities to Lithuania for an 8-month tour of duty as of this year,” Vice Minister V. Umbrasas said.

Vice Admiral H. De Bonnaventure also attended celebration of the first anniversary of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group deployed in Lithuania for deterrence and defence that took place in Rukla.

A French contingent served as part of the eFP in Estonia in 2017 and joined the German-led eFP in Lithuania as of 2018 and is now serving integrated into the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf of the Lithuanian Armed Forces based in Rukla alongside military contingents deployed by other allies.

Defence cooperation of Lithuania and France

The two countries develop cooperation through various formats: NATO, European Union, multilaterally, bilaterally, etc.

France is one of the most active contributors to the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states: it has deployed five rotations and one augmentation (conducted from Malbork Air Base in Poland).

France also contributes to the NATO eFP and the Baltic security. Lithuania greatly appreciates the decision of France to deploy a company-sized unit with combat capabilities to Lithuania for 8 months this year. Successfully operating alongside each other, Lithuanian and French forces will enhanced interoperability, get to know each other’s’ cultures, and exchange experience which will be useful in soldiers’ future careers and strengthen both countries defence capabilities.

In its turn, Lithuania made the decision to take part in the UN stabilisation operation in Mali MINUSMA in response to the call of France to contribute to bilateral and collective efforts to combat terrorism in the wake of the terrorist attack in Paris in November. Also, in 2014, Lithuanian soldiers with C-27J Spartan transport aircraft were providing logistical support to French national operation Sangaris in the Central African Republic.

Currently, Lithuanian and French soldiers are serving side by side in Iraq, Afghanistan, EU training missions in Mali (EUTM) and the Central African Republic (EUTM CAR).

Lithuanian and French soldiers also train in joint exercises. France contributes to mine countermeasures Exercise Open Spirit in Lithuania on a regular basis.

The countries also cooperate in military training. Lithuanian soldiers are invited to enhance qualification in courses and apprenticeships in France. Academic student exchange is conducted between the Saint-Cyr Military Academy and the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania.

France also contributes to the activity of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in Vilnius as one of the framework nations, French officer has been the second in command at the Centre since 2013.